Wall construction

ABSTRACT

A wall construction, particularly but not solely for use as a room divider, or partition, has a rectangular frame defining an opening for a wall panel that may desirably be a translucent, ornamentally configured plastic sheet or the like. Bounding the opening is a rib forming an abutment against which the panel may seat, and cooperating with the rib in clamping the panel in place is a retaining strip, preferably of T-shaped cross section, seated in a groove formed in the frame and laterally spaced from the abutment. The several tongues of the strip are all of different lengths but of the same thickness, so that any one of the tongues or legs can seat in the groove to dispose a selected one of the three tongues in engagement with the panel. The cross member of the T represented by the cross sectional shape of the strip may also bear against the panel. This permits a single strip to be usable for clamping any of four panel thicknesses.

United States Patent Adams 1 Nov. 14, 1972 154] WALL CONSTRUCTION 72Inventor: Larry 1). Adams, Box 408 Kellers [571 ABSTRACT Church Road18942 A wall construction, particularly but not solely for use [22] Fild; Aug 27, 1970 as a room divider, or partition, has a rectangular Appl.No.: 67,425

Primary Examiner-Henry C. Sutherland AttorneySperry and Zoda framedefining an opening for a wall panel that may desirably be atranslucent, ornamentally configured plastic sheet or the like. Boundingthe opening is a rib forming an abutment against which the panel mayseat, and cooperating with the rib in clamping the panel in place is aretaining strip, preferably of T- shaped cross section, seated in agroove formed in the frame and laterally spaced from the abutment. Theseveral tongues of the strip are all of different lengths but of thesame thickness, so that any one of the tongues or legs can seat in thegroove to dispose a selected one of the three tongues in engagement withthe panel. The cross member of the T represented by the cross sectionalshape of the strip may also bear against the panel. This permits asingle strip to be usable for clamping any of four panel thicknesses.

1 Claim, 8 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of theInvention The invention pertains to the art of wall constructions,partitions, or room dividers in general, and in particular to the art offabricatingstructures of this type, often in situ, through the medium ofa minimum number of basic components cooperating, in such fashion thatin such static structures as buildings, interior partitions or dividersmay be erected by disposing a panel in a peripheral frame, and holdingit in place by inserting a retaining strip in a grooved portion of theframe.

2 Description of the Prior Art It is obviously-highly desirable toprovide room partitions or dividers that can be erected to any desiredheight or length, as for example in a modular arrangement, swiftly andeasily, and with the use of a minimum number of inexpensively fabricatedcomponents. The

provision of such a divider especially is desirable in that it permitsthe ordinary householder, often possessing little skill-in carpentry, toerect an attractive room divider, and at a comparatively low cost.Heretofore, in the art, it has been known, as a general proposition toprovide room dividers of this general category. However, certaindeficiencies in the prior art construction have been noted, and it isproposed to remedy these deficiencies through a novel construction to bedescribed hereinafter.

The problem in the prior art, it is believed, has been that sufficientversatility has not been designed into the room dividers of this type.As a result, it is necessaryto stock a relatively large number ofcomponents, including frame members, panels, and retaining strips orequivalent devices. This, in turn, has caused the unit cost to beincreased to an undesirable extent, as a result of which the commercialfeasibility of these devices has not been exploited as much as it shouldbe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Summarized briefly, the present inventionutilizes frame members which areof like cross section, and which can becut or otherwise formed to a prescribed number of modular lengths. As aresult, room divider frame structures can be erected by assembling theseframe members in rectangular configurations. And, in association withthe peripheral frame members so assembled and erected, the inventionincludes the provision of vertical or horizontal divider frame members,

which can be used to extend between opposed outer frame sections, todivide a single panel receiving opening into two or more such openings.

The invention further includes a construction wherein each frame memberhas a longitudinal rib laterally spaced from a longitudinal groove, thegroove and rib being in parallel relation and extending continuouslyabout the panel receiving opening.

A panel seats against the rib, and is clamped in place through theprovision of a retaining strip of T-shaped cross section, having threelegs of different lengths, any of which may engage in the groove. Thisallows any of three legs of different lengths, or for that matter thecross member of the T, to bear against the panel. In this way, althougha single retaining strip may be provided as a stock item, any of fourdifferent panel thicknesses can be clamped between the strip and rib.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a roomdivider according to the present invention, shown fragmentarily;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of one of the sidesof the divider;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view through the base portion ofthe divider, taken on line 3-3 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, on the same scale as FIG. 3, taken on line44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5-7 are views similar to FIG. 4, showing the retaining strip indifferent positions in which it may be used in accordance with theinvention; and

FIG. 8 is a view like FIGS. 5-7 showing a modified form.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings in detail,a room divider is illustrated in FIG. 1, extending between ceiling C andfloor surface F. The room divider, in the illustrated example, includesa frame structure generally designated 10, which is erected as anupright frame of rectangular form, defining and extending about acorrespondingly rectangular, panel-receiving opening 11.

In the illustrated example, the vertical members of the divider areextended above and below the horizontal members and includespring-pressed extensions 13 at their upper ends, and feet 15 at theirlower ends, a construction which adapts the divider for erection inrooms varying as to ceiling height. And, this arrangement permits swiftand easy installation without the use of tools, etc.

Extending continuously about the opening is a rib 12 which in theillustrated example, but not necessarily, is disposed between theopposite faces 13 of the frame. The rib could, if desired, be flush withone of said faces.

In any event, the rib 12 extends longitudinally of the top, bottom, andsides of the frame, so as to extend completely around the opening.

Also extending continuously about the edge of the opening, is a groove14, formed in the frame structure in laterally spaced, parallel relationto the rib.

A retaining strip assembly generally designated 16, comprises aplurality of individual strips, each of which extends along anassociated portion of the frame. Retaining strip assembly 16 cooperateswith the rib 12 in clarnpably engaging therebetween a panel 18. Panel18, in a preferred embodiment, can be of translucent, colored plastic,one or both faces of which may be ornamentally configured if so desired,although this is of course not critical to successful use of theinvention. The panel may be completely opaque, or for that mattercompletely transparent, if this should be so desired.

In any event, the panel is formed as a rectangular sheet, completelyfilling the associated opening, and when mounted in place, will befirmly and immovably engaged between the rib and retaining strip.

The retaining strip that extends along each side of the structure is Tshaped in cross section, though not formed as a symmetrically shaped Twhen so viewed. Rather, as noted from any of FIGS. 2-7, the retainingstrip, by reason of its asymmetrical T shaped cross section, is providedwith three legs 20, 22, 24 of different lengths but of the samethickness. There is thus provided a long leg 20, a short leg 22, and amedium leg 24. In referring to the length of the legs, it is understoodthat the intention here is to consider said lengths of the legs asviewed in cross section, as for example in FIG. 4. When so viewed, it isclearly seen that the legs are of like thickness, but differ from oneanother in respect to the distance they extend from the location oftheir juncture.

By reason of this arrangement, any leg can be seated in groove 14, thedepth of which is equal to or greater than the length of the longest leg20. For example, in FIGS. 3 and 4, the leg 24 is seated in the groove14, with leg 20 extending across the space between groove 14 and rib 12.Leg 20, the longest leg, is thus used in FIG. 3 and 4 to cooperate withthe rib 12 in clamping the panel 18 therebetween. Since the long leg 20terminates only a short distance from the rib 12, the panel 18 may berelatively thin.

The same retaining strip can be used, however, to accommodate a panel 18a. This panel, shown in FIG. 5, is substantially thicker than the panel18, and in this arrangement, the leg 22 is used to bear against thepanel, with the leg 24 still being used for engagement in the groove 14.Leg 22, being the shortest leg, permits clamping of a panel ofsubstantial thickness in the frame structure.

In FIG. 6, a panel 18 b, thinner than panel 18 a but thicker than panel18, is used. In this arrangement, the leg 24 of intermediate length isused for the purpose of clamping the panel against the rib 12. In thisevent, the longest leg 20 seats in groove 14 (although one couldalternatively seat the shortest leg 22 in the groove, if so desired).

In the FIG. 6 arrangement, a recess is defined between the panel and theleg 22, and if desired this can be used to accommodate a filler strip25, which could alternatively be a flexible sealing strip or the like.This is, of course, at the option of the user and may depend to somedegree upon the installation conditions and the location at which thewall or partition is to be used.

In FIG. 7, the retaining strip is shown in yet another position, inwhich the cross member of the T, defined by the coplanar legs 20, 22, isused to bear against a panel 18 c greater in thickness than any of theother panels described above.

It is thus seen that a single retaining strip can be disposed in any offour positions, to accommodate panels of four different thicknesses. Inother words, a single frame member, and a single retaining strip,cooperate to clampably engage four different panel thicknesses in theillustrated arrangement.

In some instances, the retaining strip might be of L shape in crosssection, rather than of a T-shaped cross section, so that there would beonly two legs rather than three. In this arrangement, shown in FIG. 7,legs or tongues would be of different lengths but of the same thickness,permitting any of three different panel thicknesses to be accommodated.The strip assembly 16 a here includes legs 20 a 24 a of differentlengths. Either of these can abut a panel 18. Or, by turning the stripto the dotted line position, a third panel thickness can beaccommodated.

In erecting the wall, I would provide, in a preferred embodiment, a baseframe member 26, disposed horizontally.

A horizontal top frame member 28 is spaced above the bottom framemember, through the provision of side frame members 30, and (if desired)one or more vertical divider members 32. The divider members separatethe single large opening 11 into a plurality of openings. The dividermember is similar to the members 26, 28, 30 except for the fact that itwill have ribs and grooves l2, 14 respectively on opposite faces, ratherthan on one face or longitudinal edge only. Thus, as seen in FIG. 1, thedivider frame member 32 receives retaining strips 16 at opposite sidesof said divider frame member.

It will be understood that the top and bottom frame members, as well asthe members 30, 32, can be pre-cut in any of a plurality of variousmodular lengths, so that one can select from stock said frame members,according to the installation requirements as regards the particularroom divider that is to be erected. Also, the panels 18 can be selectedfrom stock, correspondingly. The ends of the horizontal members would inthe illustrated example have end tongues and grooves mating with thegrooves 14 and ribs 12, respectively, of the side frame members 30 anddivider members 32.

In this way, the horizontal frame members 26, 28 can be adjusted alongthe lengths of the side and divider frame members 30, 32 respectively,to selected locations. Then, panels 18 can be seated in the resultingopenings 11, against the ribs 12 bounding said openings. Retainingstrips as hereinbefore described are then inserted in the grooves 14,being positioned in any of the positions shown in FIGS. 4-7 according tothe thickness of the particular panel to be clamped thereby. Theretaining strips can be adhesively engaged in the grooves 14, or screws,small nails, or the like, not shown, can be driven through the retainingstrips to hold them in place. It is also within the scope of theinvention to simply wedge the legs of the retaining strips into theirassociated grooves 14.

It will be seen that the arrangement is possessed of a high degree ofversatility, despite the relatively small number of cross sectionalconfigurations used. A single cross sectional configuration for theframe member 26, 30 or 28 as the case may be, and a single crosssectional configuration of the cooperating retaining strip, permitsaccommodation of four different panel thicknesses, as compared to priorart devices in which four different retaining stn'p cross sections, orfour different frame member cross sections, were required for the samepurpose. This reduces considerably the overall cost of room dividers ofthe type illustrated and described. Especially is this necessary whenone considers that it is essential in any event to maintain framemembers of different lengths, since room dividers are erected to variousheights and lengths. This in many instances multiplies undesirably thetotal number of frame members that must be stocked, if said framemembers are to be used for accommodating panels of differentthicknesses. In accordance with the present invention, this excessivestocking requirement is obviated, through the medium of the novel crosssectional construction illustrated, all without increase in the cost offabricating any of the individual strips of frame members.

I claim 1. A wall construction, especially for use as a room divider orthe like, comprising:

an upright frame structure having a panel-receiving opening, the edge ofwhich is formed with an abutment means and with a groove transverselyspaced from and extending in a mutually parallel relationship with saidabutment means;

a panel seated in said opening against the abutment means; and

a retaining strip seated in the groove and bearing against the panel toclampably engage the same between the abutment means and strip, saidstn'p being of an asymmetrical T-shaped cross-section of said legsengaging in the groove with another of the legs bearing against thepanel, said legs being of the same thickness for extension of any leginto the groove, said groove being of a depth not less than the lengthof the longest of the legs, thus to optionally retain different panelsof at least four different thicknesses.

1. A wall construction, especially for use as a room divider or thelike, comprising: an upright frame structure having a panel-receivingopening, the edge of which is formed with an abutment means and with agroove transversely spaced from and extending in a mutually parallelrelationship with said abutment means; a panel seated in said openingagainst the abutment means; and a retaining strip seated in the grooveand bearing against the panel to clampably engage the same between theabutment means and strip, said strip being of an asymmetrical T-shapedcrosssection to define three legs, two of which are coplanar, the thirdleg being offset from the mid-point of the combined length of the twocoplanar legs and extending normally to the plane of said two legs,whereby each of said legs is of a length different from the length ofeither of the other legs, any one of said legs engaging in the groovewith another of the legs bearing against the panel, said legs being ofthe same thickness for extension of any leg into the groove, said groovebeing of a depth not less than the length of the longest of the legs,thus to optionally retain different panels of at least four differentthicknesses.